Without a Doubt

About the Author

Surbhi Sarna is a remarkable entrepreneur and innovator who founded a medical device company that she eventually sold for $275 million. Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, resilience, and turning personal challenges into groundbreaking solutions. Surbhi's story is particularly inspiring because she overcame significant personal and professional obstacles to achieve her dreams. Her experiences, as detailed in her book Without a Doubt, provide invaluable insights into navigating doubt and leveraging it as a strength to propel oneself from being underrated to unbeatable.

Main Idea

The core message of Without a Doubt is about transforming doubt and adversity into powerful motivators for success. Surbhi Sarna's journey illustrates how the qualities that often make one feel underrated can actually be the keys to achieving unparalleled success. By recognizing, defining, and leveraging these qualities, individuals can build their own ladders and rise above societal and professional challenges. The book emphasizes the importance of gaining the right experience, effective storytelling, building a supportive team, and knowing when to make pivotal changes in one's journey.

Table of Contents

1. Finding a Problem You Want to Work On
2. Gaining the Right Experience
3. Networking Without a Network
4. Telling a Story and Developing Thick Skin
5. Building a Team that Lasts
6. Keep Going Through Life’s Ups and Downs
7. Knowing When to Make a Change
8. The Most Important Product is You

Finding a Problem You Want to Work On

At thirteen, Surbhi Sarna faced a potential cancer diagnosis, which was the catalyst for her career in healthcare innovation. Her personal health scare revealed the inadequacies in medical diagnostics, particularly for women, and fueled her desire to make a difference. She realized that many medical procedures for women were outdated and invasive, prompting her to focus on creating better diagnostic tools.

"The very qualities that put you on the outside with certain people or in certain environments are, in fact, your strengths." - Surbhi Sarna

Surbhi's early passion for improving women's health led her to Berkeley, where she dedicated herself to learning more about the field. Her story highlights the importance of finding a problem you are deeply passionate about and dedicating yourself to solving it, even when faced with significant challenges.

Gaining the Right Experience

After her health scare, Surbhi pursued a technical path, despite the allure of higher-paying jobs in finance and consultancy. She understood that mastering technical skills was crucial for creating innovative products. This decision was driven by her belief that practical experience in the field was more valuable than immediate financial rewards.

"Business skills can be acquired while you’re building your company. But mastering the technical skills needed to execute the business you want to be in... begins with an understanding of that field from a technical perspective." - Surbhi Sarna